

The English Heritage Podcast
English Heritage
Every object has a story to tell. But how can one mystery item lead us on a journey through history, people and places? In the English Heritage podcast, comedian and writer Amy Matthews brings you entertaining tales from unexpected places. Each week, we begin with a mystery item and with the help of English Heritage experts and special guests, Amy explores what our past can tell us about our present and perhaps our future.Follow us wherever you get your podcasts.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 27, 2025 • 32min
Speaking with shadows: Witchcraft, Women and Power
We’re still busy behind the scenes, so in the meantime we wanted to share a special series with you called Speaking with Shadows. It sees Josie Long teaming up with English Heritage to uncover some of the most fascinating forgotten stories from England’s past. We hope you enjoy it. At Pevensey Castle in East Sussex, we learn about Joan of Navarre, the medieval Queen of England who was accused of witchcraft and imprisoned at the castle by her stepson, Henry V. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 20, 2025 • 51min
From the archive: Alice Thornton: a woman’s experience of the English Civil Wars
We’re working behind the scenes to make the podcast better than ever. In the meantime, we’re diving into our archive to bring you some of our favourite episodes. Discover the story of a 17th century woman who left an amazing literary legacy. Alice Thornton wrote four books, including three autobiographies, which provide a remarkable insight into life during the English Civil Wars. To discover more about Middleham Castle or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/middlehamcastle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 13, 2025 • 36min
Speaking with shadows: The medieval massacre of the Jews of York
We’re still busy behind the scenes, so in the meantime we wanted to share a special series with you called Speaking with Shadows. It sees Josie Long teaming up with English Heritage to uncover some of the most fascinating forgotten stories from England’s past. We hope you enjoy it. Clifford's Tower in York was the site of a tragedy in 1190 where the entire Jewish population of the city was persecuted to their deaths. We ask how and why such a shocking event could take place and hear how the local Jewish community reflect on it today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 6, 2025 • 1h 14min
From the archive: The extraordinary life and times of Eleanor of Aquitaine
We’re working behind the scenes to make the podcast better than ever. In the meantime, we’re diving into our archive to bring you some of our favourite episodes. One of 12th century Europe’s richest and most powerful women, Eleanor became Queen of France as the wife of King Louis VII and then Queen of England as the wife of Henry II. Discover the story of her remarkable rise to power, her imprisonment following a plot to remove her second husband as king and her return to power as queen dowager. To discover more about Eleanor of Aquitaine’s life, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/women-in-history/eleanor-aquitaine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 27, 2025 • 32min
Speaking with shadows: Gwen Lalley - a 1930s pioneer
We’re still busy behind the scenes, so in the meantime we wanted to share a special series with you called Speaking with Shadows. It sees Josie Long teaming up with English Heritage to uncover some of the most fascinating forgotten stories from England’s past. We hope you enjoy it. In this episode, Josie discovers the story of Gwen Lally, a former actress who directed thousands of performers in Battle’s 1932 pageant. We hear about Lally’s pioneering role as the first female pageant master and her exploration of gender roles both on and off stage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 20, 2025 • 53min
From the archive: Exploring LGBTQ+ history in the Wernher Collection at Ranger’s House
We’re working behind the scenes to make the podcast better than ever. In the meantime, we’re diving into our archive to bring you some of our favourite episodes. Join senior interpretation manager Nick Collinson, properties historian Andrew Roberts and young producer Katie Burke to discuss the LGBTQ+ history connected to a selection of the objects in the Wernher Collection at Ranger’s House. To discover more about Ranger’s House or to plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/rangershouse Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 13, 2025 • 29min
Speaking with shadows: the people of Hadrian's Wall
We’re still busy behind the scenes, so in the meantime we wanted to share a special series with you called Speaking with Shadows. It sees Josie Long teaming up with English Heritage to uncover some of the most fascinating forgotten stories from England’s past. We hope you enjoy it. In this episode, Josie travels to Birdoswald Roman Fort on Hadrian’s Wall to learn about the complex and diverse communities that travelled there from across the Roman Empire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 6, 2025 • 24min
From the archive: The story behind reggae legend Bob Marley’s blue plaque in London
We’re working behind the scenes to make the podcast better than ever. In the meantime, we’re diving into our archive to bring you some of our favourite episodes. This week, we interview historian Howard Spencer to reveal the story behind the new blue plaque at the Chelsea house where reggae singing sensation Bob Marley lived in 1977 after fleeing from Jamaica. To find out more about our blue plaque scheme, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 30, 2025 • 39min
Speaking with shadows: Richmond Castle’s Conscientious Objectors
We’re still busy behind the scenes, so in the meantime we wanted to share a special series with you called Speaking with Shadows. It sees Josie Long teaming up with English Heritage to uncover some of the most fascinating forgotten stories from England’s past. We hope you enjoy it. Beside Richmond Castle’s imposing Norman keep lies an unassuming military cell block with an extraordinary secret. Its fragile walls are inscribed with thousands of graffiti, many of them left by conscientious objectors imprisoned there during the First World War. These were men from all walks of life, united by one belief: that war was wrong. Thanks to the very personal graffiti these men left behind, we’ve been able to piece together the stories of some of their lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 23, 2025 • 34min
Speaking with shadows: The Caribbean Prisoners of Portchester Castle
We’re still busy behind the scenes, so in the meantime we wanted to share a special series with you called Speaking with Shadows. It sees Josie Long teaming up with English Heritage to uncover some of the most fascinating forgotten stories from England’s past. We hope you enjoy it. In this episode, we visit Portchester Castle to hear about the black prisoners of war who were captured during the Napoleonic wars and brought all the way from the Caribbean to be imprisoned at the castle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


